Electromechanical spring-winding device



g- 19, 1930- G. MOMBUR. 1,773,112

EILEC'lROMECI-IANIGAL SPRING WINDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. MQMBUR ELECTROMECHANICAL SPRI NG WINDING DEVICE :s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1925 lll Aug. 19, 1930. e. MOMBUR ,1

ELECTROMECHANICAL SPRING WINDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19-, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet a Patented Aug. 19, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGES MOMBUR, OF LA CI-IAUX-DE-FON'DS, SWITZERLAND YELECTROMECHANICAL SPRING-WINDING DEVICE Application filed December 19,1925, Serial No. 76,476, and in France December 29, 1924.

This invention relates to means for imparting an intermittent motion to other devices by the use of the electric current. It is particularly directed to devices which require to be wound up, or in other words, devices in which some power-storing means is utilized. More especially it is adapted for the winding of clocks or other devices wherein when the power-storing means, such as a spring or the like, has been brought to its maximum capacity, the operation of the winding device will be temporarily stopped to be automatically resumed again when the powerstoring device has of its power.

The ordinary clockwork in which power is stored by a mainspring is a familiar example of one class of such devices.

According to the present invention I provide a means. for winding up such mechanism in which the actual power which causes the winding is the reaction of a spring; such spring is put under tension or compression by an electric device, there being means for then releasing the spring so that its stored-up power may wind the mainspring or its equivalent to a small extent and by repeated actions of such actuating spring the mainspring is wound to the desired extent.

In the preferred form of the invention this action continues until the mainspring is under such tension that the power of the actuating spring can no longer wind it any tighter. But when the mainspring has given up 35 some of its power in operating the clockwork,

its tension becomes sufficiently relaxed to again enable the actuating spring to wind it. Preferably the electric current is only used during actual winding of the mainspring. The device of my invention has the capacity of operation in all conditions in which the clockwork may be found, that is to say, it will operate whether the clockwork is completely run down or only partially so. In normal operation, however, when a spring is employed as the power-storing means, the latter will be kept in a condition of approximately its maximum or fully-wound condition. Should this be departed from in any case by reason of outside causes, my invention will given up a portion or all quickly wind it to a condition of approximate maximum and. then intermittently retain it in substantially this condition.

- Other features of the invention will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one form of my invention as applied to a small clock, P

Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view, partly diagrammatic. i

F ig; 2 is a detached view of the stopping pawl.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the switch.

Fig. 3 is a View of a modification.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification.

- ig. 5 is a similar view, showing the switch in position for starting the oscillation.

Fig. 6 is a view of the same device at the end of the oscillating movement of the armature.

Fig.7 isa diagram drawn on a larger scale of the whole system.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the release curves of the mainspring of the clock and of the actuating spring of the winding mechanismrespect-ively. I I

Fig. 10 is a view of a form of reinforced I mainspring which is'preferred.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view'of one of the Y {rogfks for fastening the spring reinforcing Referring to' the drawings, let d indicate a barrel which for. the purpose-of this invention may be understood to housea spring 85 whose power is to be utilized in running the clockwork. The axis 03 may be understood as denoting the shaft to which oneend of the mainspring is attached and which through suitable gearing controlled by the escapement ofthe clock (not shown) makes, let us say, one revolution per hour. The 0pposite end of themainspring may be fixed to the spring barrel in the usual way. The 95 barrel is provided: with ratchet teeth d" which ratchet teeth are utilized by my invention in winding the spring. Preferably the number of suchratchet teeth is less than sixty,

so that the barrel makes more than one comin";

' wespelctto pawl a with are" a r Hrs,

plate rotation under the action of the windmg mechanism in each sixt minutes.

he actuating spring w ich I utilize for winding the clockwork is shown at c in the drawing. It may be a tension or a compression spring, but 1s shown as a tension spring, having one end fixed to the base plate of the movement. a is the actuatin pawl which engages the ratchet teeth of t e barrel and preferably is limited in its movement to advancing t e bari'bl eif tbbth at each reerprm cation. The power actuating. the win ing pawl a is that storedifi the "actuating spring" 111 2 movable-with thearmature and 1S forced c, the sp c amnected ,to the pawlin any suita l il e way. A stop pawl or similar deprovided for holding the ratchet mitts imitsadvanced position after each recipromtion; ottheractnatingpawl. This stop wl whieh is shownin Fig. 2" of the drawgw mg may be mountedeinairy suitable position,

b at-preferably is superimposed upon the actasting pawl-w its'pivotal pointcoincident with that of the armature shaft to be described. slutshem .in contact with the V w etchetby; tlis-springigr 'Aacompaet-construction is thus attained.

;Theiaetuating pawl a'is'moved backwardly to engage a new tooth at each reciprocationhhymaarmatumb is moved by an welectro-magmetm thmpole pieces being pref- I rablyshapedtoequaliae the magnetic attlhfifilmo The mm is shown as oscillating upon-an exist and when current is L m d-zthr'ou'gh the. magnet in a manner to be the armature is moved from its tilted position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to a polsiti n in which it'is in line with the pole pieces. The actuating pawl a is pivoted to theannature by -a pin a, the latter acting as 6? mate pull theracthating pawl backwardlymt each osoillatiorief thearmature. Preferably the pin 6 is so located that when the amature is in itsattracted position nearly in line with the polepieces, the pin e with reosely'approaeh the conitiemdt dead center, whereby in'such position a small armature torquewill be sufficient tebfidetively oppose the" maximum pull on the pawl actuating s ing 0.- I

56 ED- mm! the? oscill ations of the armature, andtherebythe movements ofthe actuating a, an'automatic switching device is em ployed which is best seen in Fig.3; This switching device comprises a tilting finger w lh piyotally mountedon the armature axis b andadapted to occupytwo positions, in one of I which a ci'rcuit'is completed through the and in the other of which it is broken. Cooperatin' withthis switch finger or wipoe ingtcontac h'isa movable arm [which is coniiectedto one terminal of the battery or otfiersource of electricenergy. The arm a" is'iiisnlated-froin the'frame and pivoted on a pin adight spring being interposed be tween the said am and a fixed abutment j trolled means for'completing the circuit and tending to hold the arm in contact with the aforesaid switch finger h. It carries an insulating block Z against which the tilting finger h rests in one position, that is, the position in which the circuit is broken. When the tilting finger h contacts with the metal of the arm, the circuit is completed.- In operation when the actuating pawl is moved back against the tension of the spring a, the finger h contacts with the arm i. It normally maintains this positioii iintil the armature is moved to a position in line with the polepieces when the" finger h is struck by a ack from its position onto the insulated block Z, thus breaking the circuit; The armature being no longer attracted, is free to oscillate back to its'inactive position under the tension of the actuating spring 0 as it pulls the actuating pawl forwardly, thus advanc- 5 in'gthe winding ratchet d one tooth. The pin a is preferably fixed upona small disk adjustableupon the axis of the armature in order to adjust the timingzof the cutting out of the current.

- WVhen the actuating springc thus moves the armature backtoits retracted or inactive position, it does so with varying degrees of fbrce,tdepending upon how loosely or how tightly the spring d is wound. If the spring is considerably run down, the actuating spring 0, having little work to do at that moment in advancing the ratchet one tooth, actsvery promptly and throws back the armature rapidly so that its inertia carries it beyond its normal position of rest. This bringsinto-contact with thetilting finger h a projection 39 formed on a lever n pivoted at m to the armature, the principal function of which will be later described. For the present operation, however, this projection 11 when the armature is thrown back beyond its'normal position of rest contacts with the tilting finger h, and moves it from its position incontact with the insulatedblocklinto contact with the conducting portion of the arm Land thus reestablishes the circuit. It result'sfrom this construction that when the mainspring is run down, the armature will keep almost continuously in motion, thus producing. repeated step by step winding movements of the actuating pawl and spring. I prefer to introduce a spring stop in the path of the armature so as to give the latter a returning movement toward its energized position; This may appropriately be the leaf spring 1" fixed'to the armature which engages a stop pin a fixed to the base plate of the device. The stop also prevents inordinate movements of the armature in the regular operation of the device.

The device as thus described may be utilized without further additions but I prefer to provide in addition a mechanically-conthus moving the armature at predetermined intervals so that a periodic operation of the mechanism is insured by the mechanical movement of the clockwork itself instead of relying entirely upon the change in the relative tensions of the clockwork spring and the winding pawl actuating spring 0. The operation hereinbefore described wherein the position of the wiping contact member 72 is determined by the force differential existing betweenthe clockwork motor spring and the pawl actuating spring is quite reliable, but like all spring-controlled mechanisms it is not absolutely positive in operation. In the preferred form such positive control is insured periodically by mechanically moving the wiping contact linger 71, into circuit-making condition position irrespective of the position of the armature. A simple method of eifecting this result is by means of a wheel. 0 mounted upon an axis 0- and driven by the clockwork. This wheel may be rotatedonce in every few minutes and is provided with a series of cam-shaped teeth 0 which engage the end of a lever 22 pivoted at we so as to move I the projection 79 upwardly, thus engaging the circuit-controlling finger 72, and moving it from the insulation Z-to the metallic portion of the arm. 2', thus completing the circuit. When this is accomplished, the winding operation commences and continues until it is again stopped by the tightening of the mainspring. By this means at frequent intervals approximating every minute the circuit 1s completed by a positive mechanical action and at least the initial movement of the winding operation enforced upon the mechanism. It isbest to provide a stop, such as g, which is engaged by the lever 27/ when it drops off of a tooth of the wheel 0 ready to be engaged by the succeeding tooth... A light spring 22 is best provided to urge the lever into its inactive position against the stop 9.

In orderto avoid any possible amming of the lever h with the lever 2' in its contacting position, I prefer to raise this lever at periodic intervals so that the finger h is free to move in accordance with the mechanism described. I have shown a simple way of effecting'this result which comprises a pin 22 on the wheel 0 which oncein each revolution of the wheel engages the end t of the arm 2', thus moving the lever to the right and breaking the circuit. This may be accompllshed frequently if desired by the addition of other pins to the wheel '0. i v

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of the invention in which thelever n is omitted. The contacting finger h is in this construction urged by a light spring h in the direction in which it will maintain contact with the conducting portion of the lever 21. In Fig. 3 the contacting finger h is shown as resting upon the insulation Z, the magnet being deenergized and the winding mechapin 6.

nism at rest. When the pin '0 on the wheel the finger it out of notch to its circuitbreaking position in contact with the insulating block Z. The actuating spring then pulls the actuating pawl forwardly one tooth as before and alsoretracts the armature to its inactive position. If the mainspring is not tight, the pin m on the armature will force the contacting linger it over onto the conducting portion of the lever 2', thus reestablishing the circuit andcausing another oscillation of the armature. This will continue so long as the mainspring is not wound sufiiciently tightly to produce a slow movement of the armature back to. its inactive position. When this occurs the plum will not reach the iingcr 7t and the latter will remain seated on the insulating block Z. c y In this construction if it be assumed t-ha he wheel 0 makes a complete rotation every eight minutes, then the winding mechanism will operate only once in each eight minutes but when it operates it will continue operation until the mainspring is wound tightly, whereupon it will stop and remain at rest for another similar period. Of course, these periods may be easily increased by using two or more projections on the wheel 0.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of the invention in which 24 is the electro-magnet, Z) is the armature, c is the actuating spring, a the actuating pawl, f the stop pawl and g the operating spring ofthe pawl f.

The pawl a is pivoted to the armature which retracts it and thereby tensions the spring 0 in the same manner as in Figs. 1 to 3. The circuit, however, is controlled by a contact lever h which is shown as pivoted on the same axis as the armature and is so related to the latter thatthe pin 6, for instance, upon which the pawl 45 is mounted, actuates the lever 70 to make and break the circuit. The lever h is provided with a wide slot or U-shaped groove, the two sides of which constitute abutments which are engaged by the The lever It has but a slight movement sufiicient to bring it into and out of contact with a switch member, its movements occurring at the extreme positions of the armature. The switch member comprisesa pivot ed arm 2'which is mounted upon the frame of the clockwork and carries a terminal plate 70 which is arranged in the circuit so that when the lever h is in contact therewith the circuit is completed through the electromagnet.

Manly this late'is arranged upon an in- Sltlatin block Fig. 5 s owe the parts when t e pavallrcsbeen advanced under the action of the spring ate-wind the mainspring one tooth andthe armature has been thereby retracted. The pin 0 onthe armature has shortly before contacted :with the upper abutmerit of the lever h and has moved it into comment with-the terminabk', thus complet ing the circuit so thatthe armature will immediately move back to its energized posit-iim'shown in-Figi 6, thereby tensioning the ling for the nextwindingmovement. In l i 5L5 rthe armature has oomplcted its operatiue st roke and thepin e has moved into contact with the lower abutment, thereby shifting th'e lever it out at contact with the termmal plate k" OVBU'tGdZi'lG body of the lever whcoheas before stated, is insulated from the plate, The circuit being thus broken the spring againact-uatestlie pawl to advance the wi of the-mainspring.

In Fig. 8 I have-plotted a curve which shows theincrease in tension of an ordinary spirailspring, suchas'is used for the maining of a clock or the like, in proportion to t a number oi turns. The turns are plotted in abscissa and the tension valued in grams ahflheii riphery' of the-barrel in ordinates. Em t emlr'vc itswill 'be seen that the reduction oi tension-is almost accurately proportiomilto the'number of turns; It will be understood that-whenms ing of this character tightly Woun there is a-sudden and imcertminincrease in tension obtained at the instant when the convolutions are pressed clnealgtogetheraaround the shaft or core of the barrel. This sudden increase in tension has; heen omitted from :the curve.

an! irrtheo eration of the devices of Figs. 4 to 6,bhewein ing of theimainspring is quite antomatio. That is tosa i, so long as the mainspring can lie advanced one tooth, the armatnre'iwill retract the pawl and with it the as! s ingcand this retraction will be complete.

mtheusual construction of mainspring the parts cheap; to bewuundtoo tightly so that theyibecome jammed.

I hcnce prefer to introduce into the main t6 spring an abrupt but nevertheless moderate nessof th'espringforahout one convolution. it may beconstructed either as a separate blade held iii-place? between the convolutions ofthe'mainsprin b means of lugs or hooks L f-l Figi 11) or 'y endingthe spring back on itself'for approximately one convolution. Towardtlie end of the; winding movement this additional thickness of springcomes into play and introduces sufficient resistance to winding to stop the operation ofthe'winding. mechanism without jammingthe spring. It is notabsolutelyessential that the said:aux iliary leaf be formed of resilient material ale thoughwthis is preferable.

In the curve shown in Fig. 9 the attractive strains of a helical spring, such as the actuating spring, during the period of its reaction after being placed under tension are indicated on theaxis of the abscissa in one-tenth millimeters and the tensions in grams upon the axis of the ordinates. This curve shows only the necessary portion of reaction. It. will be seen fromthis graph that the curve is almost horizontal, the modifications in tension between B and B being very slight. On the other hand, the fall of tension will be very sudden from B to B, this being due to the convolutions beginning to press against one another at the end of the reaction. Consequently. it is advisable that the operation of the actuating spring, so far as its efl'ect on the actuating pawl is concerned, shall be limited to the nearly horizontal portion B B Thus the actuating springzwilllbe placedv originally under an initial tension sufiicicnt to bring it into the horizontal portion ofthe graph before it is further stretched by the action of the oscillating armature.

To facilitate an understanding of the mode of operation I will start when the mainspring is full run down, the actuating spring a retracte and the armature in its inactive position and contact is made to complete the circuit. The armature will then oscillate and this oscillation will be rapidly re eated due to thef-act that little winding e ort is required of the actuating spring. The armature will continue in oscillation and the mainspring is wound tooth by: tooth until the resistance of the mainspring increases to the point where the supplemental blade of the 'mainspring begins to be affected by the tension on the mainspring. Or in other words, where the resistance reaches the curve A? A (Fig. 8). At this point the armature will not be able to return completely to its inactive position, the ener 'zing contact will not be made and the winding operation will stop.

As the mainspring begins to unwind or run down, due to the operation of the clock, its tension becomes less and when this tension reduces sulficiently to enable the power stored in'theactuating spring to complete the winding movement of one tooth, the arma ture will be moved to its inactive position,

thus making the energizing contact, and the armature will then oscillate a few times until the spring is again under suflicient tension to prevent its operation.

It will be seen that the actionot the arma ture and hence of the winding mechanism is Ill ' automatic, and it will also be seen that once the mainspring is fully wound it is not permitted to run down to any great extent. By this construction there is no violent operation of the actuating pawl, either in its oscillations, its beginning of movement, or in its stopping. It begins its movement long before the spring is fully run down and ends its movement before the spring is tightly wound up or jammed, the latter being assisted by the provision of the supplemental blade in the mainspring or its equivalent.

It will be ui'iderstood that various modifications may be made in the constructions herein described without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. An electro-mechanical device for the putting in tension of a barrel spring, which comprises a winding ratchet, a locking pawl for said ratchet, a pawl operating the forward rotation of the ratchet, an aperture in the middle of said pawl, a stationary axis guiding this aperture and allowing displacements in both directions, a spring controlling the forward displacement of the pawl and electro-mechanical means effecting the putting in tension of the spring and causing the recoil of the pawl before effecting its operative run.

and a conductive element, a contacting arm,

means to bring said arm upon the conductive portion of the switching device and means to bring it upon the insulated portion of same when the oscillating movement of the armature ceases.

3. An electro-mechanical device for the putting under tension of a barrel spring which comprises a winding ratchet and its locking pawl, a pawl controlling the for Ward movement of the ratchet, spring controlling the forward movement of the pawl, a connecting crank pin between the pawl and an oscillating electro-magnetic armature, a switching device comprising an insulated portion and a conductive portion, a contact ing lever upon the axis of the armature and a notch provided upon said lever for the passage of the connecting crank pin between the pawl and the armature and shaped so that this crank pin pressesagainst one edge of the notch in order to produce the closing contact of the circuit when the armature is stationary and presses againstthe other edge to produce the opening contact upon the insulated part of the switching device when the oscillating movement of the armature which puts the controlling spring under tensionceases. a

4. A winding mechanism for an energy storing device, said mechanism comprising a spring means for advancin the part to be wound step by step, means for retracting the spring means after each actuating movement of the latter, and a controlling mechanism operable to secure, a succession of operative movements of the spring means until the resistance of the device to, be wound overcomes the power of said spring means and auxilcircuit interrupting means for automatically controlling the action of said electro-magnetic device whereby the latter oscillates until the resistanceof the device to be wound overcomes the tension on said spring means and auxiliary circuit-closing -means controlled by said mechanism independently of the tension of its spring whereby the said retracting device will be electrically actuated after a predetermined movement of said mechanism and regardless of the relative stresses existing inthe spring of the mechanism to be wound and the said spring means. thus positively insuring the inception of .a winding cycle within a predetermined time after the previous winding cycle has ceased due to the establishing of a balance of forces between the said springs.

6. The winding mechanism according to claim 4, further characterized in that the said energy storing device comprises a spiral spring having a plurality of convolutions of flat spring ribbon, the said auxiliary resist ance means comprising a leaf of material interposed between adjacent convolutions toward'the outer part of the saidspiral spring.

7 A winding device comprising a winding ratchet. and its locking pawl, an. actuating pawl to advance said ratchet, an armature to move said actuating pawl in one direction, a spring to move said pawl and armature in the opposite direction, an electric circuit controlling themagnetic movement of said armature, a movable contact to open andclose said circuit, and a lostmotion connection between said armature and said contact, said connection permitting the movement of said armature over a predetermined run in either direction without altering the circuit controlil'mg 'position of said contachand-said cn- .nectlon beiug ada atoneend of said armature run to shi t said contact tohreak the said circuit and at the o posite end of said 7 rlut l mlture run to shiftaai contactto reestab- ,15aturqamovahlecontachto open andlclose J maidqcircuit, and a ,lost motion connection between said armatureiandrsnid contact, said connecti n permitting the'free movement of yeaidtarmature over. the major part of its run ,20 'wlithout-uchanging the, 'tion of said contact, rthe said last 1 motion connection being adaptedto shift the said contact to break tharsaid "circuit towardtheend of the magnetically induced -movement of said armature 11; A winding ,deviceior aspring motor, said device comprising a springadvanced windingvpawl, an electromagnet to retract said pawl, a switch controlling the circuit of said electromagnet and including a wiping contact adapted'to be moved in one dimotion by the force difi'erential existing between themotor springand the said spring ,fonadvancingthe winding pawl, 21 member with which said wiping'contact cooperates to control the said circuit,and means actuated by the movement ofa part of said motor for periodically moving said member out of the path of said wiping contact.

JInwitness whereofI have hereunto signed my name. V

GEORGES .MOMBUR.

.25 andthereafter towardthe endof the opposite movementrof said anmature, said connection be radapted"to shift: said contactr to reeslish-said circuit,

, faiflhe deficeacconiing to claim: 7 ,a further $9 chhtacterized .in that the said armature 0svqillatestabout a pivotalaxis, the driving art .oztsaid lost mOtIODRCOHIIGOtiOILIOtIfiDg with caidmmature, the driven ,part of said'connectionacomprisingta .ipivotallyvmounted arm $13 which carries thesaidrmovable contact, there beingaprovideda contactsurfacewith which saidtcantact cooperates to complete the said circuit, the lost ,motion connection being adaptedto wipe the saidmovable contact :1 across the. face of contacbsurface when theim'matnre is moved: by the. said spring whereby tocomplete the said electrical circuit,-and .upon the -reverse movement of the armature and after .a predetermined run ,7

4 .thereoiflgsaid st motioneconnectionrbeing adapted to swing saidmovahlescontactoff the and contact surface. 1,0. ,atwinding wnprising :a windjwzatchatmnd its locking pawhan actuating JP pt twltoadyancesaid natchet,-.an armatnreto move. said actuating pawl ,in one: direction,

a pring..to, move sald qpawlflandiarmature in 'te dincct fllmmcl fltric circuit con- In) 'ng themagneticmovementrof said ar- 5 astute, wthe said ,ampature ,being. tpivotally n tedga switch arm controlling an t ,mdaarlostmotwncounectionrbetween .aani .amatute; and said switch. arm, sapdcponmct owm .f ree run pf the ohsaidrumaetip to gpoqitlvely swing and switch arm in :one dim-and mmpposate send of-said tozgicalt v y. taaldiarm mz-the optoo 

